Samuel Kelvin "Sammy" Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968) is a Dominican retired professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career, which spanned from 1989 to 2007. Sosa's Major League career began with the Texas Rangers in 1989. After three seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and became one of the league's best hitters. In 1998, Sosa and Mark McGwire achieved national fame for their home run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris' home run record.Sosa finished his career with brief stints with the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th career home run to become the fifth player in MLB history to reach the milestone. He is also the all-time home run leader among foreign-born MLB players. Sosa is one of only two National League players to ever reach 160 RBIs in a season, a milestone he reached in 2001. Sosa is the only player to have hit 60 or more home runs in a single season three times.
Michael Sosa, Keysha Sosa, Kenia Sosa, Sammy Sosa Jr.
Parents
Juan Bautista Montero, Lucrecia Sosa
Awards
National League Most Valuable Player Award, Hank Aaron Award, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year ESPY Award
Nominations
Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award, Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Male Athlete
Movies
Slammin' Sammy: The Sammy Sosa Story, Baseball: The Tenth Inning
Star Sign
Scorpio
#
Fact
1
Returned to baseball for 1 season with the Texas Rangers. [2007]
2
Played in 1st of 1,811 games with the Chicago Cubs. [April 1992]
3
Officially announced his retirement from baseball and awaits his eligibility into the hall of fame for the year 2013. [June 2009]
4
Absent from Major League Baseball. [2006]
5
Began brief stint playing with the Baltimore Orioles. [April 2005]
6
Was the batter Mark Buehrle walked in his 2007 no-hitter. Had Sosa not reached base, Buehrle would have pitched a perfect game.
7
On June 16, 2009, exactly 20 years after his Major League debut, it was reported that Sosa was one of the 103 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003.
8
On June 20, 2007, he hit home run #600 off of Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis. Coincidentally, Marquis wears #21 on his jersey, the number formerly worn by Sosa himself.
9
In the late 80s to the mid 90s - he played for The Tulsa Drillers Baseball Team in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
10
In September of 2004, he was dropped to 6th in the Chicago Cubs' batting order. It marked the first time he had been in that spot since 1994.
11
Father died of a brain hemorrhage when Sammy was just six years old.
12
Ejected when umpires found cork in his bat after Sosa's bat broke when he hit a grounder to second in the 1st inning against Tampa Bay. Because cork inside a bat is thought to help players hit the ball further, it is against baseball rules. (3 June 2003)
13
Has four kids, Keysha, Kenia, Sammy Jr. and Michael.
14
The 5th of 7 children.
15
Traded by the Chicago White Sox with Ken Patterson to the Chicago Cubs for George Bell on March 30, 1992.
16
Became the third major league player to have 4 seasons with 50 or more home runs and the second to have 4 consecutive seasons with 50 or more home runs in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Sunday, August 26, 2001.
17
Hit first major league home run off Boston's Roger Clemens as a member of the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park in 1989.
18
To help his native Dominican Republic, Sosa auctioned of his 62nd home run ball from the 1998 season. Also, when he's not home in the Dominican, he lives in the same building as Oprah Winfrey.
19
Made major league debut on June 16, 1989.
20
Won the 1998 National League Most Value Player award.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Kissing a Fool
1998
Sammy Sosa
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Airport 24/7: Miami
2012
TV Series
Himself
Cubs Forever: Celebrating 60 Years of WGN-TV and the Chicago Cubs
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Sunday Night Baseball
1991-2007
TV Series
Himself - Chicago Cubs Right Fielder / Himself - Texas Rangers Right Fielder / Himself - Baltimore Orioles Designated Hitter / ...
$70 Million